During this Holiday Season I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the Flagler County community.  Your continued willingness to help is what makes our school district great!  In times of great economic challenge, you have weighed what is important and showed that your priorities include our children.  The Flagler County School District family thanks you.

First of all, you approved the .25 mill continuation that will help our schools financially during the 2011-2013 school years.  These dollars will be used to preserve academic programs, retain highly qualified teachers, and to protect arts, athletics and student programs that enhance our children’s education.  This money is needed to replace other federal and state funding that will be lost at the end of this year.

You not only donate dollars for student activities such as sports, field trips and clubs, but also give us your time through regular volunteering and mentoring our students who are most in need.  Thirty minutes a week with a child can bring new hope to young lives.  We have over 3,000 active volunteers and 200 mentors.

Our local businesses and community partners have given over 1.5 million dollars in support to education in Flagler County through the Flagler County Education Foundation, a not-for-profit direct-support organization.  The programs they support benefit all of our students and teachers.  The work of the foundation enables us to address projects that would go lacking if not for their support.
 
Flagler Christmas Angels is a community project that connects children with providers for holiday gifts.  Over 3,000 children from babies to 18 years of age will be provided gifts for Christmas because of the many volunteers, community providers and businesses that have stepped forward in giving donations this holiday season.  Requests continue to come in and the Christmas Angels are scrambling to ensure that every child in Flagler County will have a joyful holiday.

Flagler County is blessed to have such caring residents.  The Holidays are a time for counting our blessings and giving thanks.  Even when times are tough it is gratifying to know that we can count on each other.  Thank you Flagler County.